Ontario Baseball Summer Report – Who to Watch For

As the 2017 summer league season comes to an end, it is time to roll out CBBSN’s collegiate summer league updates from around the country. Over the next two weeks, our scouts will be sharing how their school’s players have fared over the season, and how they look to project going into fall practice.

Toronto – The summer is rapidly coming to an end, and with that comes the completion of yet another exciting year of baseball around Ontario.

It was a year filled with many ups as the province watched a number of young Ontario natives hear their names called in the 2017 MLB Draft. From right-handed pitcher Landon Leach of Toronto to shortstop Adam Hall of London – both second round selections may I add – to outfielder Cooper Davis of Mississauga and shortstop Dondrae Bremner of Toronto.

Many others received offers from big-name schools and will be heading down south to the United States to play college baseball next season. Some of the names include switch-hitting outfielder Rashad Collymore and catcher David Mendham will both play at Indian River State JC, catcher Mitch Osborne will take his talents to Polk State JC, and shortstop Owen Jansen will head over to Purdue University.

Moving forward, as we wave goodbye to the 2017 campaign, we now change our focus to the upcoming season. With Ontario and the country of Canada, in general, producing more and more talent by the year, let’s take a look at some of the biggest names in the 2018 class as we slowly transition into baseball’s offseason.

While it is yet to be settled where he will stick in the infield, one thing is for certain, Noah Naylor is Canada’s most talented amateur prospect. Taking part in the Under Armour Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, the PG All-American Classic at Petco Field in San Diego, and of course the High School Home-Run Derby during MLB’s All-Star Weekend in Miami, Naylor is growing into a common household name outside of the Canadian borders.

Brother of San Diego Padres prospect and former first round selection Josh Naylor, Noah is built differently than his older brother. With five-tool potential, some juice in his bat from the left side, athletic, agile, and smooth actions all over the infield and a cannon of an arm, Noah is well on his way to becoming the next Naylor brother to see his name called in the first round.

Only a few weeks removed from committing to Hail State, you could say that Eric Cerantola had himself quite a summer. Throwing the CPBL’s first no-hitter of the season, Cerantola also racked up 17-punchouts in the effort, using his sinking fastball that touches 90 mph on the gun and an overhand curveball with a nasty sharp hook.

What may be more incredible is the 6-foot-5, 195-pound righty has never had an offseason of baseball training in his life. He was an exceptional hockey player prior to opting to stick to baseball–leading to low mileage on his arm, and will only keep getting better as he is set to enter his senior year of high school.

Denzel Clarke, OF, Class of 2018, Uncommitted – Toronto Mets

It is scary to consider the ceiling of Canada’s best high school outfielding prospect. Son of an Olympian, Denzel Clarke is only now beginning to grow into to his frame, and he is only going to get bigger and stronger.

Spotlighting his talents at the 2017 Under Armour Games alongside his cousin, Noah Naylor at Wrigley field, Clarke is a freakish athlete with an entire shed of raw tools and off the charts makeup. Clarke is rapidly beginning to generate a ton of steam, which may even lead him to become a high-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.

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